Hapatic catalase activity of Labeo rohita captured from river Chenab

The degradation of water quality in natural water bodies due to human activities is of immediate concern as it causes stress to life there in. For every living organism, a defensive system is present that protect all the cells of an organism from oxidative stress. This defensive system is called antioxidant system. Catalase enzyme is an important part of this system that degrades oxidative radicals. These oxidative radicals decompose vital bio-molecules of an organism body that ultimately leads to the death of an organism. Catalase enzyme protects an organism from bio-molecule decomposition by destroying oxidative radicals, mainly hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen molecule. In the present study, the liver catalase activity was measured from wild captured and farm cultured Labeo rohita in relation to heavy mental contamination in selected sites of river Chenab. For this purpose, proposed fish liver tissues were collected from Khanki, Marala and Chenab kinara of river Chenab. Hepatic catalase activity was measured with the help of spectrophotometer at 240nm against H2O2. To study different physico-chemical parameters, of water samples also collected from the fish sampling sites. Some physico-chemical parameters i.e. water temperature, pH and dissolve oxygen were measured on the spot with the help of digital pH and DO meter while the remaining were measured manually in laboratory. The inferences of present study showed higher liver catalase activity (251 plus minus 1.0 UmL-1) in the wild L. rohita compared to farmed fish (109 plus minus 1.0 UmL-1) due to contamination of heavy metals as a result of industries, sewage and other anthropogenic activities. The pond ecosystem was free of toxic metals therefore the enzyme activity was recorded lower. Statistical analysis showed significant difference (p less than or equal to 0.05) between farmed and wild fish liver catalase activity. Various metals i.e. Lead, Cadmium and Chromium were also measured in the liver of studied fish with the help of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed higher concentration of Chromium in wild fish compared to other metals.